Thimble



Feb. I, 1948. J. B. DOUCE- THMBLE Filed Nov. 28, 1945 John'. Douce INVENIOA.

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Patented Feb. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' THIMBLE John B. Doucet, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 28. 1945, Serial No. 631,374

2 Claims.

My invention relates to thimbles of the type used for sewing, and has for one of its objects to extend the use of the thimble to an additional purpose, thesame being to also function as a nail le.

A further object is to extend the open end of the thimble with a formation usable as a nail Iile.

Another object is to utilize the nail le improvement as a base for a needle stop.

Another object is to design the improved thimble and its novel formations in one piece for simplicity and economical manufacture.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the thimble, showing its use as a nail le;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the thimble;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is the view of tbe open end of the thimble; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modication.

In accordance with the foregoing, specic reierence to the drawing indicates a standard form of sewing thimble at I0. For the present purpose, the open end of the thimble is not made plain, but with an annular external ange II from which the open end of the thimble terminates with a circular ledge I2. As indicated in Fig. 4, the edge I3 of the flange II which is adjacent to the ledge I2 is serrated with a crisscross design. Thus, with the thimble made of steel` or other hard metal, it is apparent that the edge I3 of the flange will have an abrasive quality similar to that of a nail file. Thus, Fig. 1 shows the manner in which a nger nail I4 is applicable to the edge I3 for this purpose. The ledge I2 serves as a rest for the nail in this event, and the rotation of the thimble will effect the nail ling operation.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the serrations as a milling formation I5, in case an alternative type of nail le is desired.

The ange I I is formed with an annular groove IS in the edge I8 opposite from the edge I3. Thus, in case a needle slips down the thimble,

Number 2 it will stop in the groove I6 and to the other hand.

It will be evident from the above description that the standard thimble has been developed with two additional useful features. Thus, the nail iile is a handy adjunct when a pause in sewing occurs and a favorite occupation is to take a nail le out of the purse and le the finger nails. At the same time, the formation on the back side of the nail file is a safety factor when the thimble is used for sewing, helping to avoid injury to the fingers.

While I have described the invention along speciiic lines, various minor changes or renements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a sewing thimble having a tubular wall; of an annular ilange extended from such wall at a point near one end thereof and in a plane substantially crosswise of the Wall, and a finger-nail le comprising a serrated formation on the face of said ange proximate to said end.

2. The combination with a sewing thimble having a tapered tubular wall and an annular flange extended from the same; of a linger-nail le comprising a serrated formation on that endface of the flange which faces the larger end of said wall.

prevent injury JOHN B. DOUCET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bowen Oct. 24, 1899 Willsey Aug. 17, 1915 Terry Apr` 16, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 3, 1904 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1909 France July 25, 1903 Number 

